Spa Cleaner With Pump

Abstract

A device for selectively removing water-submerged debris is provided. The device comprises a settling chamber, a water intake tube having an inlet end terminating in an intake valve, a closure assembly, drain valve, a handle, a first filter, a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a second filter, and means for selectively powering the pump. The pump draws debris and water through the intake valve into the chamber and then pulls the water from the chamber through the second filter to exit through the pump outlet.

1 . A device for selectively removing water-submerged debris, comprising:
 a settling chamber having an upper end and a lower end;   a water intake tube having an inlet end adapted to be positioned adjacent debris to be removed, said intake tube communicating with the chamber and terminating in an intake valve for blocking liquid outflow from the tube;   a closure assembly at the chamber lower end wherein the closure assembly supports the water intake tube;   a drain valve adjacent the closure assembly for draining water;   a handle for positioning the device with the intake tube inlet adjacent debris to be removed;   a first filter interposed in an exit path leading to the drain valve for retaining debris carried into the chamber with water from the intake tube;   a pump having a pump inlet communicating with the interior of the chamber, said pump inlet positioned adjacent the chamber upper end, and having a pump outlet;   a second filter positioned in the settling chamber to cover the pump inlet; and   means for selectively powering the pump whereby, when the intake tube is positioned adjacent the debris to be removed, the pump draws debris and water through the intake valve into the chamber and then pulls the water from the chamber through the second filter into the pump inlet to exit through the pump outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively powering the pump comprises a battery and further comprising a control located on the handle for selectively applying the power from the battery to the pump. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises telescoping segments. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the means for powering the pump is a battery contained within at least one of the telescoping segments of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drain valve comprises a member freely movable on the intake tube for closing the closure assembly when the chamber contains air and is submerged and opening the closure assembly when the chamber contains water and is no longer submerged. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is contained in a pump housing at the chamber upper end. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , where the intake tube is mounted to and extends through the lower end of the chamber and the intake valve is positioned adjacent to and above the chamber lower end. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump has a suction capacity effective to hold the drain valve shut when the chamber is substantially filled with water. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively powering the pump comprises a battery and further comprising a threaded control located on the handle for longitudinally moving the battery so that an electrical contact is made that provides electrical power to the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the settling chamber is generally cylindrical and the second filter has a cylindrical surface and is supported on a frame in the settling chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical filter has a diameter that is at least fifty percent of an internal diameter of the settling chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A method for removing water-submerged debris, comprising:
 providing a device with:
 a settling chamber having an upper end and a lower end; 
 a water intake tube having an inlet end adapted to be positioned adjacent debris to be removed, said intake tube communicating with the chamber and terminating in an intake valve for blocking liquid outflow from the tube; 
 a closure assembly at the chamber lower end wherein the closure assembly supports the water intake tube; 
 a drain valve adjacent the closure assembly for draining water; 
 a handle for positioning the device with the intake tube inlet adjacent debris to be removed; 
 a first filter interposed in an exit path leading to the drain valve for retaining debris carried into the chamber with water from the intake tube; 
 a pump having a pump inlet communicating with the interior of the chamber, said pump inlet positioned adjacent the chamber upper end, and having a pump outlet; 
 a second filter positioned in the settling chamber to cover the pump inlet; and 
 means for selectively powering the pump whereby, when the intake tube is positioned adjacent the debris to be removed, the pump draws debris and water through the intake valve into the chamber and then pulls the water from the chamber through the second filter to exit through the pump outlet; 
   positioning the device in water with the intake tube and chamber submerged and allowing the chamber to fill with water;   powering the pump to draw water containing submerged debris to be removed through the intake tube inlet into the chamber and displace from the pump outlet at least a portion of the water entering the chamber in the prior step; and   de-powering the pump and positioning the chamber to no longer be submerged, whereby the water in the chamber drains from the chamber via the drain valve with debris captured on the first filter.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of powering the pump to draw water comprises drawing water through an inlet tube mounted to and extending through the lower end of the chamber with an intake valve positioned on the inlet tube adjacent the chamber lower end. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of powering the pump to draw water comprises powering a pump with a suction force effective to hold the drain valve shut when the chamber is substantially filled with water. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removing water-submerged debris, using a device with a settling chamber having an upper end and a lower end; a water intake tube having an inlet end adapted to be positioned adjacent debris to be removed, said intake tube communicating with the chamber and terminating in an intake valve for blocking liquid outflow from the tube; a closure assembly at the chamber lower end wherein the closure assembly supports the water intake tube; a drain valve adjacent the closure assembly for draining water; a handle for positioning the device with the intake tube inlet adjacent debris to be removed; a first filter interposed in an exit path leading to the drain valve for retaining debris carried into the chamber with water from the intake tube; a pump having a pump inlet communicating with the interior of the chamber, said pump inlet positioned adjacent the chamber upper end, and having a pump outlet; a second filter positioned in the settling chamber to cover the pump inlet; and means for selectively powering the pump whereby, when the intake tube is positioned adjacent the debris to be removed, the pump draws debris and water through the intake valve into the chamber and then pulls the water from the chamber through the second filter to exit through the pump outlet, the method comprising:
 positioning the device in water with the intake tube and chamber submerged and allowing the chamber to fill with water; and   powering the pump to draw water containing submerged debris to be removed through the intake tube inlet into the chamber and displace from the pump outlet at least a portion of the water entering the chamber in the prior step.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising de-powering the pump and positioning the chamber to be submerged no longer and allowing the water in the chamber to drain from the chamber via the drain valve with debris captured on the first filter.